Pin Down an Effective Business Page on Pinterest

Pinterest isn't just for learning how to build a blingy, DIY (do-it-yourself) 8-foot cat tree from toilet paper rolls, it's actually an effective small (and big) business marketing tool. 

ComScore released a report earlier this year showing Pinterest leverages more than 10 million unique visitors monthly. That means 10 million individual people are visiting Pinterest each month - that doesn't include the 30 times each person repeatedly returns in that same month to review that recipe or share that LOL dog pic. 

Even if you're brand-spanking new to Pinterest, it doesn't have to be like learning Latin. Let's break down Pinterest for Small Business into 5 easy steps:

1. Know Your Audience

There's millions of different avenues  you can take with Pinterest and choosing the right road is about knowing your destination. What are your customers looking for: How-to info? Visual inspiration for design? "Best of" category details? Tips and tricks? 

Figure out what makes your audience tick and they'll pin from the palm of your hand. 

2. Keyword, Keyword, Keyword

Everything across the interwebs is keyword driven. Think about how you use the internet. When you're hunting something down, you type a few key words into a search engine and magically, Poof! You get a plethora of possibilities. Your audience is doing the same. 

Tagging everything appropriately, including your pins, helps those hunting the web find what you're offering. Pinning a photo of your confection company's famous candy apple? Tag it with words that are both obvious, and not-so-much (when applicable) such as:

Apple, Fall, Candy, Company Name, State, How To, DIY

And don't forget things that may be very niche specific, like:

Gluten Free, Holiday, Family Craft

3. Balance

Don't just have a page dedicated to you that screams, "Come buy my stuff!" Focus on balance. 

Have roughly 80 percent of your content focus on information and subliminal marketing - using the candy shop as an example, repinning visual ideas for other candy apples or quotes about candy to help populate your page with diverse material. Use the other 20 percent to directly market your own product and expertise. Pinterest pinners want more than just an advertisement, they want entertainment and education. Balance both, and you'll have a vibrant, diverse page.

4. Don't forget about YOU!

Your Pinterest audience needs more than just what you think is helpful, they need you. Create a board dedicated to who you are and what you do. Upload a few original pins (pictures) of yourself, your building if you have one and things that reflect what is most important to your company. 

5. Show off your work

Don't put all that time and effort into building this perfect Pinterest page and then forget to market it. Put that URL on your website, into your email signature, share it on Facebook and Twitter. Use other social media outlets to push traffic back and forth between each other for increased online engagement. 

Need ideas how to pin for your specific audience? Clever Dog is here to help! Don't resist — reach out. Contact sarah@clvrdog.com or lyssa@clvrdog.com. We promise we won't bite ;)

Pinky Swear by Your Brand - It's the Thing to do!

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other
name would smell just as sweet."

The old famous verse from William Shakespeare speaks volumes to the concept of brand awareness, and while the well-known writer may not have known it then - the man's words are eye-opening when it comes to successful marketing. 

Adding emotion helps customers
fall in love with your brand.

Building a successful brand is about building a desirable concept. The success of your company is not based purely on its name or logo - nor the widespread recognition of either of these - but rather the ability of your customer to connect on an emotional level when coming into contact with your name or logo.

This concept is largely described in the book, "Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action," by Simon Sinek. Sinek describes how successful companies develop and - most importantly - stick to the "why" of their company. (Sinek explores this concept in a Ted Talks series from 2009.)

Sinek uses Apple computers as an example. His own words are simply the best way to showcase the difference between using the "why," to sell your company, versus simply trying to sell your product.

A marketing message from Apple not keeping in mind the "why," could be: 

We make great computers. They are beautifully designed, simple to use, and user friendly. Want to buy one?

Sinek continues:

Here’s how Apple actually communicates – Everything we do we believe in challenging the status quo, we believe in thinking differently. The way we challenge the status quo is by making our products beautifully designed, simple to use, and user friendly. We just happen to make great computers. Want to buy one?

You can almost taste the difference. You feel it in your heart. Maybe it brings tears to your eyes.

As described in Entreprenuer.com, an emotional connection with your customer is key to brand success. Think of the loyalty of Harley Davidson riders, or the way Fedex appeals to its customers with the message that makes life easier, no hassles, more frustrations.

And just you watch this most recent Cheerios commercial and try not to cry. 

If you haven't seen it, a mother and son are enjoying breakfast when he brings up the longevity of the product, and then cutely asks, "So, when we have Cheerios, it's kind of like we're having breakfast with Nana?" >>insert Mom holding back a tear<<

So as you continue to move forward with your company, don't ever forget to stop and smell the roses - turns out, that's your key to success anyway.

Looking for help with your branding strategy? Connect with Clever Dog by e-mailing info@clvrdog.com.

WWhat's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/w/williamsha125207.html#zPBTpbTvOp0heO6Z.99

What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/w/williamsha125207.html#zPBTpbTvOp0heO6Z.99